Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...
Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...
Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...
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Reference Manual<br />
• perform the following laboratory tests to evaluate the woman’s health <strong>and</strong> screen for<br />
selected medical conditions <strong>and</strong> infections:<br />
o hemoglobin levels (as needed).<br />
o RPR (or VDRL): The test should be done if the woman’s status is not known.<br />
o HIV (first visit/if last test >3 months ago/as needed): If the woman does not know<br />
her status <strong>and</strong> volunteers for testing, a test should be conducted. A positive HIV<br />
status affects many aspects of care for the woman <strong>and</strong> her newborn.<br />
o check CD4 count according to national protocols if the woman’s HIV status is<br />
positive.<br />
• provide prophylaxis for health promotion <strong>and</strong> disease prevention: TT, intermittent<br />
insecticide-treated bednets (ITN), iron/folate tablets, vitamin A, broad-spectrum antihelminthics,<br />
<strong>and</strong> other nutritional supplements as needed.<br />
• promote safer sexual practices.<br />
• if the woman’s HIV status is positive, provide prophylaxis for opportunistic infections<br />
according to national guidelines.<br />
• provide treatment for any medical conditions, illnesses, <strong>and</strong> infections detected.<br />
• manage any pregnancy-related complications.<br />
• provide PMTCT interventions according to national guidelines. If the woman is not<br />
already on ARV treatment, consider referring her for care with an HIV specialist.<br />
• provide client-centered counseling for women <strong>and</strong> partners/supporters.<br />
• help the woman <strong>and</strong> her partner/support person develop a complication-readiness plan.<br />
• refer all women who need specialized care for any reason.<br />
Importance of Routine Couple Visits<br />
A routine couple visit prior to discharge from the facility enables discussion with the<br />
partner/father about warning signs of complications in the woman <strong>and</strong> newborn <strong>and</strong> the need to<br />
make a plan for urgent transport <strong>and</strong> referral. He can also learn what he can do to protect his<br />
wife's <strong>and</strong> newborn’s health <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong> the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. In these<br />
ways a couple discharge visit can contribute to maternal <strong>and</strong> perinatal health.<br />
The couple visit also provides an opportunity for both partners to be educated about treatment<br />
<strong>and</strong> prevention of sexually transmitted infections, the importance of family planning, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
availability of different family planning methods, including vasectomy.<br />
If the male partner has not yet been tested for HIV, the couple can be counseled <strong>and</strong><br />
encouraged to be tested without the danger of blame being put on the woman because she has<br />
been tested first. Where appropriate, condoms can be demonstrated, promoted, <strong>and</strong> provided.<br />
A couple visit acknowledges the usual gender role of men in protecting their family <strong>and</strong> in<br />
making decisions.<br />
Health Promotion <strong>and</strong> Disease Prevention<br />
Certain medications or simple health care measures can prevent or reduce the risk of suffering<br />
from specific health problems. The following measures should be explained <strong>and</strong> offered to all<br />
women.<br />
<strong>Integrated</strong> maternal <strong>and</strong> newborn care<br />
<strong>Basic</strong> skills course<br />
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